Method of and apparatus for handling cans having end beads



June 26, 1962 v. K. VllTANEN .METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CANSHAVING END BEADS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 25, 1959 INVENTOR VEIKKOK. VIITANEN In M ATTORNEY June 26, 1962 v. K. VHTANEN METHOD OF ANDAPPARATUS FOR HANDLI 3,040,491 NG v CANS HAVING END BEADS Filed March25, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 1 1 q fl Q, 6: s w

INVENTOR VEIKKO K. VIITANEN WwW ATTORNEY 3,040,491 LING June 26, 1962 v.K. VIITANEN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HAND CANS HAVING END BEADS 4Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 23, 1959 INVENTOR VEIKKO K. VIITANEN ATTORNEYJune 26, 1962 v. K. VIITANEN 3,040,491-

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING CANS HAVING END BEADS Filed March23, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 F'IE E INVENTOR VEIKKO K. VIITANEN A'I'TO RNEYUnited States METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING The present inventionappertains in general to can casing machines and more particularly to amethod of preventing the interlocking of can end beads during can casingoperations and to apparatus for performing the method.

The annular end seams or beads projecting from the sides of can bodiesare a source of many problems during certain can casing operations. Inone such casing operation cans of the type mentioned are stacked inreclining position, one upon another and in juxtaposed relation in thecase or carton loading chute of a can casing machine. Each can stackcomprises one tier, and a plurality of such tiers may be required tofill a shipping case or carton. A plurality of such stacks or tiers arecollected in the chute with thecans of adjoining stacks in end-to-endrelation and extending lengthwise of the chute. A case of the topopening variety and of appropriate size and shape to hold one or moretiers is located in can receiving position about the discharge end ofthe chute. The case is then filled by advancing all the cans lengthwisein the chute until the correct number of tiers have been pushed from thechute into the case to fill the same.

While filling the chute with cans the rims or beads at the ends of someof the cans in one tier frequently catch over and become interlockedwith the beads of adjacent cans in an adjoining tier in a manner knownin the tradeas rim lock. Since the cans, at the time of the casingoperation are filled with a product and are rather heavy the interlockedcans cannot readilybe separated. Additionally, the cans are underpressure exerted endwise thereupon, and this is another factor thatmakes it difiicult to separate cans in rim-locked interengagement. Ifthis rim locked condition exists between the cans of the tier last toenter a filled case and the cans of the adjoining tier remaining in thechute, removal of the filled case from the chute is seriously hindered.Cans will be pulled from the case by cans in the chute interlocked atentO therewith and/or from the chute as a consequence of their beinginterlocked with cans in the easel Thus, it is evident that loadingoperations. are slowed by the problems resulting from the interlockingof the end beads of the cans.

An object, therefore, of the present invention is to provide an improvedcan casing machine.

Another object is to provide an improved can handling method to preventinterference with separation of adjoining tiers by rim lock between thebeads of cans of the adjoining tiers during can casing operations.

Another object is to provide improved means in a can casing machine toprevent interference with separation of adjoining tiers by rim lockbetween the beads of cans of the adjoining tiers.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following description and the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a can eas ing machineembodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective of a portion of the machine shown inFIG.,1 as viewed from above the front of the machine and at one side.

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the machine shown in FIG. 1,and illustrates the apparatus in an advanced operational position.

FIG. 4 is similar to FIG. 3 and illustrates the apparatus in a furtheradvanced operational position.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation partly in section showingseveral cans in rim locked condition.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary elevation partly in section showingcans positioned in accordance with the teaching of the presentinvention.

The apparatus of the present invention is an improve: ment to the caseloading machine fully disclosed in US. Patent 2,650,009 of C. E. Kerrfor Apparatus for Packing Containers. The machine embodying the presentinvention and the machine of the previously mentioned patent areconstructed similarly and operate in a similar manner. Therefore, thepatent mentioned above may be referred to for details of constructionand operation of the case loading machine presently disclosed.

Cans 14 (FIG. 5) of the common cylindrical type and having ,end beads 16(FIGS. 5 and 6) are delivered on end to the case loading machine 17(FIG. 1) where tiers 18 comprising a predetermined number of cansarranged in rows are successively assembled at a tier pickup station 20.After the assembly of each tier 18, it is picked up by transfer arms 22of a rotary turret 24 moving in the direction of the arrow 26 (FIG. 1)and deposited in a case loading chute 27 as indicated at 18'. It will benoted that each tier 18 in the chute 27 is disposed on one edge of thetier, i.e., turned through approximately in a clockwise direction(FIG. 1) from the position of the tier at station 20, so that the cansare reclining.

When thus arranging tiers of cans successively in a loading chute bypreviously known apparatus, the condition known as rim lock frequentlydevelops. This condition of cans within a loading chute is illustratedin FIG. 5, which shows parts of two adjoining tiers 18a-18b of cans in aloading chute 27a. Each tier 18a and 18b consists of severalsuperimposed rows extending transversely of the chute. One can 14a inthe next to the lowest row in the tier 18a has been displaced within thechute 27a rearwardly with regard to the directionof can'advance, and thecorresponding can 14b in the following tier 18b has been similarlydisplaced. Consequently, the bead 16a at the trailing end of the can 14ahas become lodged behind the beads 16c and 16d at the leading ends ofcans 14c and 1401, respectively, beside the can 14b in the tier 1812.Since the cans are propelled through the chute 27a by pressure exertedfrom behind, the can 14b presses forward against the can 14a.Occasionally this causes the bead 16a of the can 14a to be gripped withconsiderable force between the beads 16b and and between the beads 16band 16d. However, the principal cause of difiiculty in separating twoadjoining tiers such as those exemplified by tiers 18a and 18b in FIG.5, is the lack of uniformity in the direction in which adjacenttransverse rows are offset. Since the can 14c is offset forward from thecan 14b, its leading end overhangs the trailing end of the can 14a, andthe bead 16a of the latter cannot readily be disengaged from-- the bead16d by raising the tier 18a relatively to the tier 18b. Similarly, thetrailing end of the can 1411 overhangs the leading end of the can 14d,which interferes with lowering the tier 18a relatively to the tier 18bto disengage the bead 1611 from the bead 160. Therefore,

when cans thus in a condition of rim lock are in adjointier 18 entersthe chute 27, each transverse row of the tier is moved into an offsetposition with respect to the next lower row in a manner to be fullyexplained herely greater than, the thickness of a can bead measuredparallel to the axis of the can, and, in the illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, the direction of offsetting of an upper row with respectto the next lower row is forward, i.e., in the direction of can advancewithin the chute 27.

After a plurality of can stacks or tiers 18 are collected in the chute27, the case filling operation is performed.

Referring in particular to FIG. 1, the case loading machine 17 has aframe structure 28, only a fragment of which is shown. The turret 24comprises two horizontally spaced spider members 30 (FIG. 2) fixed to ahorizontal shaft 32 (FIG. 1) extending transversely of the machine andjournalled in opposite parts of the frame structure 28. Each spidermember 30 has three radially extending arms 34, 36 and 38 of equallength and spaced apart equal angular intervals. The two spider members30 are positioned at opposite sides of the machine 17 with correspondingarms 34, 36 and 38 of the two spiders in alignment with each other (FIG.2). A pivot rod 40 extending in parallel relation to the shaft 32 isjournalled in the outer ends of each two cooperating arms as illustratedin FIG. 2, which shows one of the rods 40 pivoted in the arms 3636. Eachrod 40 carries four of the transfer arms 22, one for each row of cans 14which extends vertically in a tier 18' in the loading chute 27, as shownin phantom in FIG. 2. Four transfer arms 22 fixed to one pivot rod 40comprises a can carrier assembly, the three can carrier assemblies beingidentified by the numbers 42a, 42b and 42c, respectively (FIG. 1). Eachtransfer arm 22 of each carrier assembly 42 has an elongate transferfinger 44 provided with a straight can aligning surface 46 which facesupward when the associated carrier assembly 42 is at the pick-up station20. The surfaces 46 of each carrier are in'a common transverse plane andare engaged by one end of each of the cans 14 of a tier carrier thereby.A retaining thumb 48, projecting from each finger 44 at a right angle tothe surface 46 and in the direction of turret movement, holds the canscarried by the finger from sliding radially inward of the turret 24during operation thereof. The thumbs 48 of each carrier assembly 42 arealigned transversely of the machine 17 to hold the cans of eachtransverse row in alignment. One end of each pivot rod 40 has a bellcrank 50 fixed thereto for rotary movement with the rod. The arms 52 and54 of each bell crank 50 are provided with cam follower rollers 56 and58, respectively.

A stationary cam plate 60 for controlling the action of the carrierassemblies 42a, 42b and 420 is fixed to the frame structure 28 in such alocation as to be contacted by therollers 56 on the bell cranks 50. Onecamming surface 62 of the cam 60 (FIG. 1), when engaged by one of therollers 56, holds the associated carrier assembly 42 with the canaligning surfaces 46 thereof substantially radially of the shaft 32during the transfer of the tiers 18 from the station 20 part way to thechute 27. Another camming surface 64 encountered by each of the followerrollers 56 as it leaves the surface 62, disposes the associated carrierassembly 42 with its surfaces 46 substantially vertical as shown in thephantom and the full line positions of the carrier assembly 42c (FIG.1). In this way, the tier 18 is turned 90 from the horizontalarrangement in which it was assembled, to a vertical arrangement,wherein the cans 14 thereof are lying on their sides, as indicated at 18(FIGS. 1, 3 and 4). Each roller 56, while engaging the camming surface64, is held against the same by a retaining strip 65 to positivelyretain the finger surfaces 46 in vertical position. During this time thecan ends defining one face of the tier 18' engaging the surfaces 46 aretransversely aligned.

While the surfaces 46 are vertical the tier 18 (FIG. 1) carried by thecarrier 420 is deposited into the chute 27 on the floor 78 thereof andadvanced therealong a certain distance. Advancement of the tier 18' bythe assembly 42c is stopped (FIG. 3) by engagement of the associatedfollower roller 58 with the camway 66 of a cam 67. The cam 67 is locatedadjacent the cam 60 and is fixed to the frame 28. During continuedadvance of the turret 24, beyond the position shown in FIG. 3, the cam67 effects pivoting of the assembly 420 in a counterclockwise directionrelative to the turret 24 so that the fingers 44 are moved out ofengagement with the cans 14 deposited on the chute floor 70 (FIG. 4). Asa result, the carrier 42c is moved downwardly below the chute 27 withoutdisturbing the position of the cans therein.

The chute floor 70 comprises an elongate can support plate located belowthe highest point in the travel of the thumbs 48 of the can carriers 42(shown in phantom in FIG. 1) and toward the rear of the machine in thepath of the can carrier assemblies. The floor plate 70, which is boltedor otherwise fixed to a base 72 (FIG. 2), is attached by bolts 74 toopposite frame members 75 (only one of which is shown in FIGS. 1, 2, 3,and 4) of the frame structure 28 for vertical angular adjustment about atransverse axisj As shown in FlGS. 1, 3 and 4 the can support plate 70is inclined upward toward the rear of the machine 17 at an angle ofabout 5. The front end of the plate 70 (FIG. 2) has longitudinal, openended slots 76 through which the transfer arms 22 pass so that thecarriers 42 can deposit the tiers of cans carried thereby onto thechute. Upstanding side walls 78 (FIG. 2) are secured to the framestructure 28 at each side of the can support plate 70 to confine thecans to the chute 27 for movement lengthwise thereof.

Operation of the case loading machine is controlled by a program clutch80 (FIG. 1) so that the turret 24 can be rotated intermittently. Thedrive or input end (not shown) of the clutch 80 is fixed to a transversecountershaft 82 journalled in the frame structure 28. The shaft 82,during operation of the machine, is driven continuously by a motor (notshown) having a drive belt 84 trained around a sheave 86 fixed to theshaft 82. A sprocket chain 88 operatively connects a sprocket 90 fixedon the driven end (not shown) of the program clutch 80 with a sprocket92 keyed to the turret shaft 32.

The clutch 80 is of a single revolution type and is normally held withthe driven end out of engagement with the shaft 82 by a clutch dog 94 sothat the turret 24 is at rest. A solenoid 96 is provided to temporarilywithdraw the clutch dog 94- from the clutch 80 to permit its driven endand the sprocket 90 to make a single revolution when the solenoid 96 isenergized. For this purpose, the armature 98 of the solenoid 96 ispivotally connected to one end of a suitably mounted bell crank 100connected to its opposite end to the clutch dog 94. A restore spring102, coiled about one end of the clutch dog 94 urges the same intoposition to stop the driven end of the clutch 80 after the same has madeone full turn (FIG. 1). Means such as a normally open, foot operatedswitch 104 (FIG. 1) in the electrical control system (not shown) of themacline 17 is provided to close the circuit of the solenoid 9 Toward theend of one cycle of operation, when the can carrier assembly 42c reachesthe phantom position (FIG. 1) the can aligning surfaces 46 thereof arevertical. At such a time the tier 18' carried by the carrier 42c is onedge and over the chute floor 70 with the leading ends of the cans 14 inthe bottom transverse row thereof ready to make first contact with theinclined can support plate 70. As movement of the carrier assembly 420continues Therefore, even though from the phantom to the full lineposition (FIG. 1) the tier 18 is moved downward onto the upwardlyinclined chute floor 70. When approaching the full line position (FIG.1)the tier 18' is fully lowered until both ends of the cans at the bottom.of the stack are supported by the inclined plate 70. This action causesall the cans of the tier to be tilted upward (FIG. 1) at their leadingor downstream, ends. All the cans of the tier, however, continue toengage the abutment or can aligning surfaces 46 with the beads 16 attheir trailing ends during the tilting action. In this way eachtransverse can row (except the lowermost) in the tier is offset from thenext lower row in the direction of can advance within the loading chute27. This uniformly olfsetrelation of the cans 14 of superimposed rows ineach tier spaces the lowermost parts of the bead 16a (FIG. 6) at theleading ends of the cans Me in each transverse row (except the lowermostrow) in one tier 18a far enough forward to receive loosely therebehindthe uppermost parts of the beads 16 at the trailing ends of the cans 147in the next lower transverse row in the tier 18 immediately in advanceof said one tier 182. beads of certain caiis of one tier are disposedbehind beads of certain cans of a following tier, the uniformity of suchbead relationship permits instantaneous separation of said tiers bylowering the lead ing tier slightly before moving the same forward fromthe next following tier. 'As a result, the cans of adjoining tiers areso disposed that their beads cannot become interengaged in such a manneras to cause consequential displacement of any of the cans of either tieras a result of rim lock when one tier is separated from the other.

Let it be assumed that the chute 27 (FIG. 1) is filled with tiers 18having the horizontal rows of cans 14 thereof offset in an axialdirection in accordance with the teachings of the present invention andthat a case of the top opening type capable of holding one tier 18' isto be filled with cans. The tier 18' last deposited 'on edge in thechute 27 by the carrier 420, has advanced all the preceding tiers 18 inthe chute until the cans of the leading tier 18' project a shortdistance therefrom beyond the discharge end of the support plate 70(FIG. 1). This condition of the cans in the chuteand the position of thetier 18' at the discharge end of the chute 27 illustrate the conditionexisting between successive cycles of operation of the machine. Ashipping case 110 of correct size is put in place about the dischargeend of the chute 27 (FIG. 1). The tier 18 at the pickup station 20isready to be picked up by the can carrier 42a upon operation of theturret 24. While the case 110 is held in place, the operator closes theswitch 104 to momentarily energize the solenoid 96 and thereby actuatethe clutch 80 to drive the turret 24 in the direction of the arrow 26through one-third of a revolution. During the early part of this cycle,with the cans 14 of all of the tiers 18' in axially offset relation andfully supported by the plate 70, the can carrier 42c advances from thefullline position (FIG. 1) to the position shown in FIG. 3. The canaligning surfaces 46'of the carrier 42c remain vertical during suchmovement due to continued engagement of the follower roller 56 with thecamming surface 64. Before the roller 56 passes beyond the cammingsurface 64 the follower 58 on the bell crank arm 54 associated with thecarrier 42c enters the camway 66 and moves to the. lower end of adownwardly curved portion 112 thereof as shown in FIG. 3, which is socontoured that the associated can aligning surfaces 46 continue toremain vertical. Thus, all the tiers 18 are advanced in the chute andthe tier 18' at the discharge end of the chute 27 (FIG. 3) is advancedfrom the chute and into the case 110' to fill the same. The filled case110 is next taken away from the chute 27 (FIGS. 4 and 6) by lowering andpivoting the case 110 in a clockwise direction. In lowering the case thecans therein are immediately moved downward (FIG. 6) out of contact withthe cans in the tier at the discharge end of the chute.

The forwardly oifset relation of the beads at the leading ends of allcans in the tier then remaining at the discharge end of the loadingchute 27, with respect to the beads at the trailing ends of all cans inthe tier in the loaded case is illustrated in FIG. 6. This relationshipmakes it possible forthe cans of these two tiers to be separated fromeach other without consequential displacement of any can from eithertier. In other words, due to the fact that all superimposed transverserows of cans in each tier are ofiset in the same axial direction thebeads 16 of laterally adjacent cans in adjoining tiers cannot interlock.Therefore, at no time is it possible for cans to be pulled from the caseand/ or from the loading chute due to rim lock when removing a filledcase in the manner mentioned. Thus, the cans in the filled case arereadily separated from the cans remaining in the chute 27, and thefilled case can easily be removed and routed to other equipment such asa case closing machine.

The cycle in progress during filling of the case 110* continues and iscompleted after removal thereof. Further advance of the carrier assembly42c, beyond the FIG. 3

position, brings the follower roller 58 into a downwardly inclinedportion 114 (FIG. 4) of the camway 66 as the follower roller 56 movesfrom between the camming surface 64 and theretaining strip 65. Thecontour of the camway 66 is such that the carrier assembly 420 ispivoted in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 4) away from the cans 14-of the tier 18- deposited thereby in the chute 27. The. cycle continuesuntil the tier at the pickup station 20 is raised by the carrier 42a anddeposited in the chute 27 in the position of the last tier 18' to arrivein the chute 27 (FIG. 1) with the cans offset as previously described.This movement of the turret 24 advances all the cans in the chute 27preparatory to the next case filling operation and brings the carrier42b into position beneath the pickup station 20.

The carrier assemblies 42 are successively controlled by the cam 66 andthe camway 66 during successive cycles of operation in the mannerdescribed in connection with the assembly 420. The other can carriers42a and 4212 each perform similarly to the can carrier 42c and in sodoing each deposits a tier of cans in the inclined chute 27 and advancesall the tiers therein a certain increment. It will be understood thatcases of the top opening variety holding more than one tier can befilled by use of the machine 17 by repeating the described cycle While acase remains in receiving position with relation to the chute 27.

An embodiment of the present invention wherein the can engaging surfaces46 and the can support plate 70 of the loading chute 27 form an acuteangle has been shown and described. It is to be understood thatinterfcrence with separation of adjoining tiers by rim lock can as wellbe prevented when the fioor plate 70 and the can aligning surfaces 46 ofthe carrier assemblies 42 form an obtuse angle, i.e., by tilting thefloor plate '74) downward rather than upward as above described. In suchcase, the filled cases can easily be removed by lifting them slightly,rather than by lowering them.

The present invention is not to be limited to use with cylindrical canssince it can be successfully employed in handling end beaded cans ofnon-circular shape.

While a particular embodimnet of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be apparent that the method and apparatus of thepresent invention are capable of modification and variation withoutdeparting from the principles of the invention and that the scope of theinvention should be limited only by the scope and proper interpretationof the claims appended hereto.

The invention having thus been described, What is believed to be new anddesired to be protected by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for handling cans having peripheral laterally projectingend beads, an inclined case loading chute for supporting stacks of canswith the axes of the cans extending lengthwise of the chute, meansmounted adjacent the case loading chute for lowering a can stackedgewise into stack supporting relation on the case loading chute, andvertical can aligning means on the stack lowering means engageable withcorresponding ends of the cans of the stack for holding each can againstendwise movement in one direction whereby upon engagement of the bottomof the stack with the case loading chute the cans of the stack arepivoted vertically to uniformly offset each can with respect to a nextvertically adjacent can.

2. In a case loading machine, .a case loading chute having a floor platefor slidably supporting within the chute a plurality of stacks of endbeaded cans disposed on their sides with the cans of adjoining stacks inaxially aligned end to end relation, and can pusher means engageablewith corresponding ends of the cans in one stack and operable to advanceall the stacks on the floor plate, said floor plate and said can pushermeans having a set inclination with respect to each other duringadvancement of cans in said chute thereby retaining all the cans in allthe stacks uniformly axially offset from all vertically adjacent cans toprevent interference with separation of the stacks by rim lock betweenthe beads of cans in adjoining stacks.

3. In a can casing machine, a case loading chute having a floor platefor supporting cans for movement therealong, said floor plate beinginclined upward toward the discharge end thereof, a movable can carrierfor supporting a stack of cans lying on their sides with their axeshorizontal, said can carrier having a vertical surface engaging all thecans in the stack at the ends thereof remote from said end of the floorplate, and means connected to the can carrier for moving the samedownward obliquely toward said end of the floor plate and toward thefloor plate for bringing the bottom of the stack into engagement withthe inclined floor to tilt all the cans of the stack upward at the endsthereof toward said end of the floor plate while engaging the verticalsurface of the can carrier at their other ends to uniformly offset allthe cans of the stack with respect to a next vertically adjacent can.

4. In a can casing machine, a can carrier movable along a certain path,said can carrier having a can aligning surface engaging and transverselyaligning ends of the cans of a stack of cans in reclining positions onthe carrier, a case loading chute having a floor plate extendinglengthwise of the path for supporting stacks of cans deposited thereonby said can carrier, and means engaging the can carrier for disposingsaid can aligning surface at a particular angle and for moving the samedownward together the floor plate to bring the bottom of said stack ofcans against the floor, said can aligning surface of the can carrier andthe floor plate being inclined with respect to each other when saidaligning surface is disposed at said particular angle, to pivotvertically the cans engaging said can aligning surface to therebyuniformly offset each of said cans with respect to a next verticallyadjacent can. Y

5. In a can casing machine, a can carrier movable along a certain path,said can carrier having a can aligning surface engaging and aligningtransversely the ends of the cans of a stack of cans on the carrier,said cans being in reclining positions, a case loading chute having afloor plate extending longitudinally with respect to a portion of thepath for supporting can stacks deposited on said floor plate by said cancarrier, means for retaining said can aligning surface of the cancarrier and the floor plate at a constant inclination with respect toeach other when said carrier is moving along said path portion, andmeans for moving the can carrier obliquely toward the floor plate andlengthwise of the floor plate in said path portion to bring the bottomof the stack of cans on the can carrier against the floor plate to pivoteach can of the stack into a uniformly offset position with respect to anext vertically adjacent can and to advance the stack along the floorplate.

6. In a can casing machine, a can carrier movable along a certain path,said can carrier being arranged to support a stack of cans in side byside relation, can carrier moving means operable to move said cancarrier downward in said path, said can carrier having a surfaceengaging and aligning corresponding ends of the cans of the stack anddisposed at a particular angle during downward movement of said cancarrier, a can support plate extending obliquely with respect to saidcan aligning surface when the same is disposed at said particular angle,and means mounting said can support plate for angular adjustment, saidcan carrier being arranged to bring the bottom of the can stack againstthe support plate while the carrier is moving downward to pivotvertically all of the cans of the stack in engagement with the aligningsurface of the can carrier and thereby offset each can of the stack withrespect to a next vertically adjacent can.

7. In a machine for easing end beaded cans, a turret journalled forvertical rotation, a can carrier secured to the turret for advancementthereby in a predetermined path of travel, a case loading chute having acan supporting floor intersecting said path, a drive connected to theturret to turn the same and advance the can carrier from a pickupstation to a discharge location in the case loading chute to transfer atier of cans from the pickup station to the loading chute, first controlmeans engaging the can carrier for holding the same in a first positionwith respect to the turret to receive the tier thereon at the pickupstation, second control means engaging the can carrier prior to arrivalthereof at said discharge location for moving the can carrier withrespect to the turret from said first position to a position wherein thetier is disposed on edge on the carrier, and can aligning means on thecan carrier engaging one end of each of the cans while the tier of cansis disposed on edge on the carrier, said loading chute floor beinginclined at an acute angle with said can aligning means when the tier ofcans is disposed on edge on the carrier whereby as the tier is depositedby the can carrier onto the chute floor the cans of said tier arepivoted vertically against the can aligning means into inclinedpositions relative to the aligning means to offset each can of the tierendwise with respect to a vertically adjacent can.

8. In. a machine for easing end beaded cans, a turret journalled forrotation about a horizontal axis, a can carrier secured to the turretfor advancement thereby in a predetermined path of travel, a caseloading chute having a can supporting floor located in said path, adrive connected to the turret to turn the same and advance the cancarrier from a pickup station to a discharge location in the caseloading chute to transfer a tier of cans from the pickup station to theloading chute, first control means engaging the can carrier for holdingthe same in a first position with respect to the turret to receive atier thereon at the pickup station, second control means engaging thecan carrier prior to arrival thereof at said discharge location formoving the can carrier with respect to the turret from said firstposition to a position wherein the tier is disposed on edge on the cancarrier, can aligning means on the can carrier engaging one end of eachof the cans while the tier of cans is disposed on edge on the carrier,said loading chute floor being inclined at an acute angle with said canaligning means when the tier of cans is disposed on edge on the carrierwhereby as the tier is deposited by the can carrier onto the chute floorthe cans of the tier are pivoted vertically in engagement with the canaligning means into inclined positions relative to the aligning means tootfset each can of the tier endwise with respect to a verticallyadjacent can, and can pusher means on said turret engaging the said oneend of each of the cans to advance the tier longitudinally of the cansalong the floor of the loading chute while maintaining the offsetcondition of the cans in the tier.

9. In a machine for easing end beaded cans, a turret journalled forrotation about a horizontal axis, a can carrier secured to the turret tobe advanced thereby in a predetermined path, a case loading chute havinga can supporting floor adjacent said path, a drive connected to theturret to turn the same and move the can carrier from a pickup stationto the case loading chute to transfer a tier of cans from the pickupstation to the floor of the loading chute, first control means engagingthe can carrier to hold the same in a first position with respect to theturret to receive a tier thereon at the pickup station, second controlmeans engaging the can carrier adjacent the loading chute for moving thecan carrier with respect to the turret from said first position to aposition wherein the tier carried thereby is disposed on edge with thecans lying on their sides, and can aligning means on the can carrierengaging one end of each of the cans and'arranged to be disposed at acertain angle during engagement of said can carrier with said secondcontrol means, said can aligning means and said chute floor being ininclined relation with respect to each other when said can aligningmeans is disposed at said certain angle, whereby each can of the tierupon engagement thereof with said floor is moved endwise and is oflfsetwith respect to any vertically adjacent can.

10. In a machine for casing end beaded cans, a turret journalled forrotation about a horizontal axis, a can carrier secured to the turretfor advancement thereby in a predetermined path, a case loading chutehaving a can supporting floor adjacent said path, a drive connected tothe turret to turn the same and move the can carrier from a pickupstation to the case loading chute to transfer a tier of cans from thepickup station to the floor of the loading chute, first control meansengaging the can carrier to hold the same in a first position withrespect to the turret to receive a tier thereon at the pickup station,second control means engaging the can carrier adjacent the loading chutefor moving the can carrier with respect to the turret from said firstposit-ion to a position wherein the tier carried thereby is disposed onedge with the cans lying on their sides, can aligning means on the cancarrier engaging one end of each of the cans and arranged to be disposedat a particular angle by engagement of said can carrier with said secondcontrol means, said can aligning means and said chute floor beinginclined with respect to each otherwhen said can aligning means isdisposed at said certain angle, whereby each can of the tier uponengagement thereof with said floor is moved endwise and is offset withrespect to any vertically adjacent can, and can pusher means on saidturret engaging the said one end of each of the cans to advance the tieralong the floor of the loading chute while maintaining the ofisetcondition of the cans in a tier.

11. The method of casing end beaded cans which comprises arranging ontheir edges in a case loading chute a plurality of tiers of cans withthe cans of each tier being aligned transversely in a predeterminedplane and the cans of adjoining tiers being arranged in end-to-endabutting relation, the cans of each tier being inclined with respect tothe plane of alignment thereof whereby the vertically adjacent cans areoffset endwise with respect to each other to space the end beads ofvertically adjacent cans from each other longitudinally of the cans toprevent interference with separation of adjoining tiers by rim lockbetween the beads of cans in adjoining tiers, and advano-' 10 ing thetiers of aligned cans in the chute to propel a predetermined number ofthe tiers into a case.

12. The method of handling cans comprising successivelyloweringindividual tiers of end beaded cans lying on their sides insuperposed relation with their axes horizontal, vertically aligning allthe cans of each of said tiers, arresing all the ends of the cans at oneface of each tier While continuing downward movement of the oppositeends of the cans thereof to tilt all of the cans in the tier intoinclined positions and thereby uniformly ofiset the Vertically alignedcans of the tier with respect to each other, thereafter during thedownward movement of each tier arresting downward movement of the otherends of the cans thereof to retain the cans of the tier with their endbeads spaced from each other, and advancing each succeeding tier withthe cans thereof moving endwise and in end to-end relation with the cansof the preceding tier.

13. The method of handling cans comprising successively loweringindividual tiers of end beaded cans lying on their sides in the tier,holding the cans of each successively lowered tier against endwisemovement in one direction, arresting downward movement of the ends ofthe cans defining one face of each successively lowered tier whilecontinuing downward movement of the other ends of the cans thereof topivot vertically all the cans of each stack and thereby to oifset eachcan of each tier with respect to a next vertically adjacent can,thereafter arresting the downward movement of the other ends of the cansto dispose the cans of each tier in axially 0&- set positions with theirend beads spaced from each other in a direction parallel to the axes ofthe cans, and advancing each successively lowered tier of axially offsetcans in an axial direction and in end-to-end relation with the cans of apreceding tier.

14. The method of casing end beaded cans which comprises arranging ontheir edges in a case loading chute a plurality of tiers of cans withthe cans of each tier aligned transversely in a predetermined plane andwith the cans of adjoining tiers arranged in end-to-end abuttingrelation, the cans of each tier being inclined with respect to the planeof alignment thereof whereby the vertically adjacent cans are ofisetendwise with respect to each other to space the end beads of verticallyadjacent cans from each other longitudinally of the cans to preventinterference with separation of adjoining tiers by rim lock between thebeads of cans in adjoining tiers, and effecting relative movementbetween the tiers of aligned cans and the chute longitudinally of thecans to discharge a predetermined number of tiers of cans from the chuteinto,

a case.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,637,833 Mueller Aug. 2, 192.7 2,345,560 Albertoli Apr. 4, 19442,718,313 ONeil Sept. 20, 1955 2,731,131 51131111011 Jan. 17, 19562,782,578, Madden Feb. 26, 1957 2,809,484 Gentry Oct. 15, 1957 2,828,000Herbert Mar. 25, 1958 2,857,721 Ardell et a1 Oct. 28, 1958

